Later that evening, Catherine found Duane alone in his office.She closed the door quietly behind her."Was that the right decision?" she asked. "Removing John completely?"Duane looked up from his desk. "There's no room for betrayal in our organization.""But he was a founder. He helped build everything—""And then he worked against us. There's no redemption for that kind of disloyalty."Catherine studied his face carefully. "You sound certain.""I am certain. John had no reason to betray us except greed and fear. Those are the weakest reasons."Catherine didn't argue further, recognizing that Duane's decision was final.She left his office and Duane sat alone with his thoughts.Minutes later, he made a decision.He pulled out his phone and called John.John answered immediately, his voice desperate and panicked."Duane, please. We can work something out. I made mistakes but I can fix this—""I'm offering you a deal," Duane said calmly."What kind of deal?""Your companies back. All

That night, close to midnight, Leon traced John's whereabouts to an abandoned private airfield at the edge of the city.The location data showed movement, a signal still transmitting from John's phone.Leon assembled a small team of trusted operatives and headed to the airfield immediately.When they arrived, the runway was empty, surrounded by darkness and silence.But nearby, on the digital map they used for tracking, a warehouse appeared.Leon and his men approached cautiously, weapons ready.The warehouse was old and deteriorating, its metal walls rusted from years of exposure to the elements.They found the entrance and moved inside, sweeping the space methodically.It was empty except for debris and scattered equipment.Then Leon spotted it.John's phone lying on the concrete floor.The screen was still on, still displaying the message that had been sent to Duane."National kings should learn borders."The fact that the screen was still active meant whatever happened here was re

The nation remained fixated on Duane's condition. Every major news network had a dedicated segment covering the attack on Aureom Consortium's founder. News stations camped outside the hospital day and night, their satellite trucks creating a small city of media presence. Social media exploded with theories and speculation. Conspiracy theories spread about who was responsible. Some blamed government agencies. Others pointed to rival corporations. A few even suggested international terrorism. The truth remained unknown, hidden behind hospital walls and media silence. Inside the hospital, Catherine barely left Duane's bedside. She sat in a chair positioned right next to his bed, watching his chest rise and fall with each mechanical breath. The monitors beeped steadily, their rhythm becoming a constant companion to her vigil. Hours passed. Days blended together. At one point, without thinking about it, Catherine reached out and held Duane's hand. Her fingers int

At Aureom Headquarters, Catherine and Alfred temporarily stabilized company operations while emergency meetings were held with executives, investors, and government partners.The conference room was filled with anxious faces, all trying to process what had happened and what it meant for their organization.Catherine sat at the head of the table, her composure held together by sheer force of will.Alfred sat beside her, his calm presence helping to steady the room."Our priority is maintaining operational continuity," Catherine said firmly. "Aureom Consortium was built by multiple people. We don't collapse because one person is injured."An executive from the financial division spoke up. "But Duane Wordsworth is the face of this organization. Investors trust him specifically.""Then we remind them that Aureom is larger than any single person," Catherine replied.Meanwhile, Leon focused entirely on security and investigation matters surrounding the attack.He coordinated with law enforc

The silence after Duane's question was unbearable.It stretched through the hospital room like a physical weight, pressing down on everyone present.Finally, Leon stepped forward and delivered the information Duane desperately needed to hear, even though he wouldn't like it."Your mother and Maya were abducted during the attack on the mansion," Leon said, his voice steady despite the gravity of the words.Duane's entire body went rigid.John added quickly, "The attackers were highly organized. They knew exactly where to go, exactly how to extract them, and they disappeared before security forces could react.""How is that possible?" Duane demanded. "I had security. Guards. Protection.""They were better prepared than we were," Leon replied. "Better equipped. Better trained."For the first time in years, Duane looked shaken.Not angry or calculating, but genuinely shaken by the loss of control over the situation.His hands trembled slightly as he processed the information.Without warn